Giant pipes wash up on Norfolk beaches

  • Norfolk

Four giant pipes have washed up on Norfolk beaches.

The huge bore pipes were being tugged from Norway to Algeria when they came loose from their vessel.

The longest pipe, washed ashore at Sea Palling beach, measures 480 metres - nearly 10 times the size of Nelson's Column.

The pipes, which measure 2.4 metres in diameter, were destined for a "large project" in the North African country.

People walk along one of the huge pipes washed up on the East Anglian coast.

Two pipes are beached at Eccles-on-Sea while a 200-metre pipe washed up on the beach at Winterton.

A further eight pipes are being anchored off the East Anglian coast or were being secured by vessels at sea, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.

The MCA said the pipes posed no danger to the public. The Marine Towing Services are working with the Dutch marine authorities to remove the four pipes as "quickly as possible".

The longest pipe measure 480 metres long.

In a statement, the MCA said: "The pipes themselves are brand new and were destined for a large project in Algeria. Other than their physical presence they pose no other danger of, or potential for pollution.

The coastguard have asked the public to stay away from the pipes. Credit: Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA)

"Once the four beached pipes are recovered the next phase of the recovery operation will begin. It is intended that all pipes will be relocated to a single location offshore north of Lowestoft where they will await remedial work to prepare them for final tow back the manufacturers in Norway, this process may take several weeks."